What Are the Best and Safest Techniques for a Secondary (Not Revision, Just Fading Results) Facelift?

The best and safest techniques for a repeat facelift are those that would be recommended by an accomplished and experienced plastic surgeon after considering your history and physical examination.

In general these are the areas that need particular attention in repeat facelift:

1. The various hairlines, which may have been displaced by the first facelift, must not be shifted further and may need to be restored to their proper positions.

2. Your surgeon may feel that at this point you need tissue replacement, as opposed simply to removing further tissue. If you have lost volume in your face your surgeon may recommend fat grafts to restore youthful fullness.

3. The previous scars must be considered in terms of their effect on skin circulation and their movement during the second procedure. 

4. Whatever techniques are used it is always paramount to avoid an overdone appearance. Your surgeon will suggest ways to freshen and rejuvenate without creating an obviously surgical appearance. 

Good luck!

 

There is no one best or safest surgical technique for a primary or secondary facelift. The optimal procedure depends upon your areas of concern, anatomy, your prior operative procedure, desired outcome, and the skill, artistry and expertise of the Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. There are a variety of techniques that support the deeper tissue and remove the excess skin which can produce excellent results with a low risk of complications. Often all that is necessary is a combination of a mini lift or limited incision facelift with the judicious addition of micro fat grafting to fill the deficient areas, since you generally lose facial volume as you age.

 

The best and safest techniques are usually achieved by the most experienced and best surgeons.  It is more dependent on the surgeon than the specific technique. For those worried about the safety of undergoing a procedure as an older person, you can relax. If evaluated properly, facelift patients over age 65 have no higher risk of complication than younger patients, according to a study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Prior studies showed the same to be true for secondary facelift patients versus first-time facelift patients: The second procedure was no more risky than the first for appropriate candidates

 

However, cosmetic (aesthetic) surgery is still surgery and requires due diligence in selecting a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon practicing in a facility that is accredited by a national organization (e.g. American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF)], who has hospital privileges for the procedure he or she will be performing. It requires more expertise, artistry, and knowledge to diminish the risks of a second procedure and maintain a natural appearance that does not look over-operated.

 

Robert Singer, MD FACS

 

La Jolla, California

 

 

 

   Depending upon the areas of concern, skin removal coupled with SMAS plication is a very safe technique will low risk of complications.  Find the plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of facelifts each year.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA